Insight for the Journey

Recently, my family and I viewed a video at home about flight #93, the United Airlines flight that was hi-jacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001 and eventually crashed in a field killing everyone on board.  Because of the brave actions of the passengers, flight #93 was the only plane hi-jacked that day that did not reach its intended target.  Most experts believe that without the intervention of the passengers that day the plane would have been flown into either the White House or the Capitol Building.

The thing that caught us off guard was the emotion the movie evoked.  I was expecting a sort of a low-budget, second-rate film about something that, although very important, happened seven years ago.  Boy was I wrong!  We were deeply moved.  The movie portrayed phone calls made from people on board to family members and others.  At first they had no idea of what danger they were in.  But as they put the puzzle together, eventually they had enough information to know this was a suicide mission and that their lives were going to end that day one way or another.   That knowledge of impending death changed everything!  It added a sense of urgency and significance to every move they made, every word they said.

When the stakes are “life and death,” friends, it changes everything!  If the people safe on the ground could have done so, they would have done anything, paid any price to get the people they loved safely off that plane that was headed to destruction.  They would have spared no expense, endured any inconvenience, to save the ones they loved.

The Bible says that this world is headed for a fiery destruction.  Not in one or two places, but in dozens of passages, it teaches that.  The enemy of our souls who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy has hi-jacked this planet and our lives and is hell-bent toward destroying as many as possible.

That’s why Jesus came (see Luke 19:10).  His is a rescue mission to save people like you and me who are headed for destruction.  Some are well aware and others aren’t, but we all have a rendezvous with death and judgment (see Hebrews 9:27).  But Jesus said, “I’ve come that you might have life” (see John 10:10).

The church exists to get that message out.  At Grace Fellowship we print it on the back of the bulletin every week.  One of our purposes is to love unbelievers by evangelizing them.  And if we really love people, we will spare no expense, take any risk, remove any barriers to allow them to receive the good news about how they can be rescued.  The task of bringing people to Jesus Christ is the highest mission of the church.  The Bible says that this world with all its pleasures is going to perish (see 1 John 2:15-17).  It’s headed toward a fiery ending one day.  Our only hope is through Jesus Christ.  If we really believe that is true, we’re going to do everything we can to persuade as many people as possible to come to Jesus Christ while there is time.      

The question is, “How far are you willing to go to get that message out?”  We’d do well to hear Paul’s ringing challenge in 1 Corinthians 9.  He is a great model for us of one willing to go to any length to make sure the gospel is heard and seen.  He identified with the culture as much as possible in order to reach as many as possible.  Why?  Because people are on that hi-jacked plane headed for destruction.  Paul says, “Be willing to adapt in order to reach people more effectively.”  If you’re not willing to adapt your approach to fit the culture, you’re not really showing love for those people headed for destruction.  Why would you let your cultural convictions and preferences stand in the way of them coming to Christ?  Listen to how Paul described his passion.

1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.  22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.  23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Now the key verse in this is verse 22: “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”  It seems Paul’s philosophy was, “Whatever it takes!”  I do not mean by “whatever” that he would try to change the essential message.  He expressed forcefully how he felt about anyone who would dare do that (see Galatians 1:6-9).  Paul’s “all things” is referring to non-essentials that can legitimately be changed.  That is, things that would fall in the second and third circles.  Paul was willing to adapt manners, styles and methods if it meant he could build a bridge for the gospel.  Can we do any less?